Poll watcher allowed to vote despite ink mark on finger

Jebril Montebon casting his vote. Montebon accused mayoral candidate Daphne Lagon’s camp of vote-buying. (CDN PHOTO/VICTOR ANTHONY V. SILVA)

DESPITE the “indelible ink” on his right index finger, 33-year-old was still allowed to vote.

Motebon, a poll watcher assigned to re-electionist Tuburan Mayor Democrito Diamante, cast his vote at 8:30 a.m. on Monday at the Jagbuaya Elementary School in Tuburan, northwest Cebu.

Assisted by lawyer Orwen Bonghanoy, lawyer of Team Diamante, Montebon issued in writing a sworn statement that he hasn’t voted yet.

Normally, those with indelible ink on their finger may no longer vote, Commission on Elections (Comelec) provincial supervisor Eliseo Labaria said. But Montebon was still allowed to vote despite the indelible ink mark on his right index finger.

Poll Clerk Lilibeth Saavedra confirmed from their records that Montebon hasn’t voted yet.

Saavedra said the Commission on Elections (Comelec)-issued ink is a darker shade of blue compared to what was on Montebon’s finger.

At 12 midnight Monday’ Montebon came to the Tuburan police station to report that he was given P1,000 and that his right index finger was applied with “indelible ink” by former Tuburan mayor Rose Marie Suezo.

(READ: Tuburan mayor’s poll watcher accuses rival camp of vote-buying)

Suezo allegedly had Montebon picked up from Jagbuaya at 8 p.m. on Sunday and brought to the headquarters of Daphne Lagon in Barangay Poblacion V.

Montebon said he used to work for Suezo when he still lived on a lot she owned in Barangay Cogon. Suezo allegedly reprimanded Montebon, asking him why he became a poll watcher for Diamante.

The former mayor has been campaigning for Lagon since March this year.  Lagon is running under the Garcia-led One Cebu and is challenging the reelection bid of Mayor Diamante who is running under the Liberal Party (LP).

Mayor Diamante said they did this to Montebon to keep him from voting. Suezo, meanwhile, denied Montebon’s accusations. “Just look at our personalities and decide who is telling the truth,” she said in a phone interview.

Bonghanoy, meanwhile, said the P1,000 allegedly given to Montebon by Suezo will be used as evidence. He said they will file the appropriate complaints “at the right time.”